Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Quantifying X-Ray Fluorescence Data Using MAPS
Published on: February 17, 2018
Spectrochemical analysis of dental calculus by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence
José Abraham1, Miriam Grenón, Héctor Jorge Sánchez
1Facultad de Matemática Astronomía y Física, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina.
Abstract:
This work presents elemental composition studies of human dental calculus by X-ray fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation. The intrinsic characteristics of synchrotron light allow for a quantitative analysis of major, minor, and trace elements of very small samples in a single measurement. At present, several theories of calculus formation exist, but none of them can describe completely all the complicated mechanisms involved in the mineralization processes. For this reason, and taking into account that experimental data are long overdue, several calculi with certain degrees of formation were collected from adult patients for analysis. The ratio of calcium/phosphorus was used as an indicator of the major crystalline structure and the state of formation of the calculus. The results demonstrate a clear correlation between the concentrations of certain elements and the type of calculus (supra- or sub-gingival). In addition, the possible correlation between the elements was analyzed.
Related Concept Videos
X-ray Crystallography
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
Atomic Spectroscopy: Absorption, Emission, and Fluorescence
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Overview
Atomic Fluorescence Spectroscopy
Determination of Crystal Structures

